Fluoride Penetration and Clearance Are Higher in Exopolysaccharide-Containing Bacterial Pellets

Caries Res. 2019;53(1):16-23. doi: 10.1159/000488596. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Abstract

Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) could increase the penetration of fluoride through dental biofilm, reducing its cariogenicity. We measured the concentration of fluoride in EPS-containing (EPS+) or not-containing (EPS-) Streptococcus mutans bacterial pellets resembling test biofilms, before and up to 60 min after a 0.05% NaF rinse in situ. Fluoride penetration and clearance were higher in EPS+ bacterial pellets. The data suggest that EPS enhances fluoride penetration, but also accelerates fluoride clearance from dental biofilms.

Keywords: Biofilms; Diet; Diffusion; Fluoride; Plaque fluid; Sucrose.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Cariostatic Agents / chemistry*
  • Cariostatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Dental Caries / microbiology
  • Diffusion
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fluorides / chemistry*
  • Fluorides / pharmacology
  • Fructose / chemistry
  • Glucose / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Saliva / physiology
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Streptococcus mutans / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus mutans / physiology
  • Sucrose / chemistry

Substances

  • Cariostatic Agents
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Fructose
  • Sucrose
  • Glucose
  • Fluorides